Police are investigating the shooting death of a 61-year-old contractor in Barrackpore yesterday.

A woman told police that the victim, Deonarine Mahase, had just left her home at Wilson Road around 5am and was walking to his vehicle parked on the roadway to drive to his business place when she heard loud explosions.

The woman looked outside and reportedly saw a masked gunman standing over Deonarine, before the assailant pointed the gun towards her and demanded that she stay inside.

Police say the woman complied but later found Deonarine lying unresponsive under the shed with apparent gunshot wounds.

They add that the suspect escaped, and the victim’s vehicle was unlocked and ransacked.